Budgeting Tips for Weddings (You’ll Save Thousands!)

You’ve seen plenty of lavish TV weddings. You’ve seen the photos in bridal magazines. You’ve likely been to a wedding or two and wondered how many thousands of dollars were spent. And sure, you’ve probably been planning the kind of wedding you wanted to have since you were 12 or 13 years old. But as you have probably learned by now, real life doesn’t always provide you with everything you’ve always wanted — especially when it comes to money. If you’re getting married to the guy of your dreams but aren’t crazy about what you have to spend to make the day special, here are some money-saving budgeting tips for lower-cost weddings that will save you big time while giving you the perfect wedding day.

1. Non-Traditional Venues

You’ll certainly spend thousands on most traditional wedding or event venues…and that’s just for the building. Food, flowers, and other things are usually not included in that price. But by renting a large vacation home for a few days instead (think VRBO or Airbnb), you can save a lot of money. Just ask the management first if it’s okay to host your event there. You can also save some bucks on hotel stays if there are multiple bedrooms.